Job Title: Creative Director

Date: September 8, 2023

Department:  Marketing

Reports to:  VP of Marketing

# Direct Reports: 7

Perks and Benefits:

FREE: breakfast, lunch, parking, on-site gym and training classes, and gym membership at Chicago Athletic Clubs.  Free Peloton membership, casual dress environment, access to United Center concert events, one-time stipend for home office equipment, competitive total rewards package, full benefits (medical, dental, vision, 401k matching, paid life insurance), comprehensive PTO package, social events, volunteer opportunities, and focused learning and development. 

What It’s Like Working Here:

The Chicago Blackhawks experience isn’t just on the ice.   Our office, located in the United Center, promotes a fun, engaging, fast-paced and collaborative atmosphere where we can celebrate both hockey and each other.  Our commitment to curating an environment where all individuals feel empowered to bring their best self to work each day can be seen throughout our organization.  Whether you are a job seeker looking to join the organization, a current member of our amazing team, or someone looking to help support our mission, our goal is the same – to reimagine the potential of hockey through memorable, inclusive experiences.  

The Top Shelf:   
The Creative Director is responsible for leading and inspiring a team of talented creatives, encouraging a collaborative work environment, and challenging the team to push our ideas to the next level. Reporting to the VP of Marketing the Creative Director is responsible for leading and inspiring our creative team to push our brand and business forward. They are a creative visionary, with an unwavering dedication and world-class approach to achieving creative excellence. They will be a trusted partner and possess the insight, authority and professional leadership to confidently lead them through transformational change. The right person in this role will be skilled in creative strategy along with being an excellent communicator and collaborator.

  
How You’ll Contribute:  

• Lead the development of multiple complex projects with interdisciplinary teams.
• Effectively communicate project requirements/roles/responsibilities and create an environment where creatives can thrive.
• Give direction and feedback to art directors and designers to help push projects forward.
• Capacity to write clear and inspiring program / creative briefs,
• Direct the operation of our in-house studio including budgeting, adherence to timelines, and marketing communications plans
• Collaborate with internal departments ensure client timelines are met.
• Participate in edits and proofing.
• Identify opportunities for improvement.
• Accountable for making sound decisions surrounding the financial performance.
• Expertise with Adobe Creative Cloud and strong general computer skills, including all Microsoft Office software programs.  
• Ability to work extended hours including nights, weekends, holidays.
• Perform other duties as required.

Player Stats and Qualifications:  

• Minimum 10 years' related experience.
• Have a profound interest in the world around you - culture, music, film, sport, art, entertainment.
• Possesses a strong creative point of view to the leadership of the business.
• Strategic creative thinker with the desire to challenge norms, push boundaries and explore new territory.
• Energized by the idea of mentoring a team and setting the creative direction.
• Strong operational/project management experience.
• Excellent organizational, presentation and communication (verbal and written) skills.
• Ability to juggle several projects at one time.
• Passion for or understanding of hockey and local market.
• Ability to address, adapt to, and overcome challenges in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
• Demonstrated aptitude for driving results
• High attention to detail
• Demonstrates Chicago Blackhawks core values of integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality

The Team:  

The Chicago Blackhawks started their journey as one of the NHL’s “Original Six” professional ice hockey teams in 1926.   Members of the Central Division in the NHL’s Western Conference and six-time Stanley Cup Champions (1934, 1938, 1961, 2010, 2013, 2015), the team calls the United Center home.  

The Chicago Blackhawks proudly show up every day to make Chicago Proud and reimagine the potential of hockey.  At its core, the team and greater organization uphold its mission through its core values centered around integrity, curiosity, empathy, collaboration, and originality.  They are fiercely dedicated to evolving and delivering new and legendary fan experiences and captivating new and diverse audiences, both on and off the ice.  As part of their unwavering commitment to drive impact and purpose in the Chicago community, the organization opened the Fifth Third Arena (the team’s official practice facility and community space for youth hockey development), continues to make expansions to the Chicago Blackhawks Foundation, and acquired the AHL team the Rockford IceHogs.  

The Chicago Blackhawks continue to grow in its commitments to honor and celebrate Black Hawk's legacy by offering our platforms, making meaningful contributions, collaborating with Native American people, and reimagining ways to support the many Native American people and communities they live amongst and alongside. They engage in this work through their formal partnership with Black Hawk’s ancestral tribe, the Sac and Fox Nation of Oklahoma, which the tribe established with the Chicago Blackhawks in 2021.  

The Chicago Blackhawks is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity at all levels.  All individuals, regardless of personal characteristics, are encouraged to apply.  All qualified applications will receive consideration for employment without regard to gender, race, religion or religious creed, color, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, sexual orientation, military or veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal, state, local law, ordinance, or regulation and will not be discriminated against on these bases.